Shkodran Mustafi: A Strong Personality Will See Us Perfect Our Philosophy

Shkodran Mustafi has backed us to get the hand of Unai Emery’s philosophy pretty swiftly…

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has ensured fans that the team’s strong personality will mean that they become accustomed to Unai Emery’s philosophy rather quickly despite the errors that are present in our game, he told Arsenal Player.

Just as we saw last week against West Ham, our win at Cardiff City didn’t come without any hiccups as Neil Warnock’s men grabbed two goals from crosses.

Also, Harry Arter should’ve put the hosts in front in the early moments of the game after being handed the ball courtesy of a poor pass from Petr Cech.

The 36-year-old is still getting familiar with the idea of passing out from the back, and teams are sensing his nervousness when he has he ball at his feet.

Having said that, Mustafi feels the team is getting better and the mistakes aren’t ideal, but that the team’s personality will push them through and have them embedded in the system in no time.

“It’s a process,” the centre-back said after the 3-2 win.

“We have tried everything in pre-season but then when you make a mistake in pre-season it’s not that bad.

“In the Premier League you don’t want to make those mistakes, but you have to show your personality because we are a big football club with big players.

“We have to show the personality that we can play from the back because that’s our football and that’s how it suits us to play.

“We just have to keep working on that. Hopefully, in a few games, we’re going to look a bit more comfortable.”

Mustafi has been one of the players who’s adapted rather smoothly to what’s been asked of him, though the entire defence needs work on how to hold a high line.

We were better in that regard against the newly-promoted side, but a new issue of defending high balls into our box.

At least we have our shooting boots on now.